Lessons for the Church from the 2023 Nigerian General Elections

After her ignoble role, what must the church do going forward?

Collage of Nigerians on the street, in church, and preaching, and voting symbol by the author (using Canva)

Preamble

On the 29th of May 2023, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu will take the oath of Office as Nigeria’s 16th President. This swearing-in is amid objections from those who did not vote for him, and they are in the majority. However, we must note that almost nine million of the twenty-four million Nigerians who voted in the 2023 General elections, voted for Bola Tinubu; that is approximately 38 per cent of the voters. The remainder of 62% of the votes were split among other candidates, with the highest of the following pack polling about 28% of the votes cast — 10 per cent points behind Bola Tinubu.

Elections in Nigeria are a time when strange things occur. Some friends supporting opposing candidates become enemies. Some families are torn apart along party lines. Numerous promises are bandied by politicians and purveyed by their campaigners and supporters, even when it is impossible to implement!

During electioneering, emotions run high and wild, and statements of all sorts are made without giving a thought to their impact on the peace and stability of the Nation. Politicians and supporters alike, exploit our ethnic and religious fault lines, further…